Ivory Coast: Rebels gain ground on border after fierce battle

The seizure of Toulepleu on Sunday afternoon extends the gains made by the rebel army, which earlier had seized another town, Zouan-Hounien.

Both towns have historically been controlled by Laurent Gbagbo, who is refusing to cede power even though the country's election commission declared opposition leader Alassane Ouattara the winner of the 28 November vote.

At the beginning of the standoff, Mr Ouattara distanced himself from the northern-based New Forces rebels, who fought a 2002-3 civil war to try to remove Mr Gbagbo. Mr Ouattara argued that he did not want to be seen as having taken the country by force when he had won the election fairly, according to the United Nations, which certified his victory.

In recent weeks, however, his administration has acknowledged the role of the rebels - known by their French acronym, FN - who are making inroads including in Abidjan. A section of the city called PK-18 is now fully under Mr Ouattara's control and checkpoints there are being manned by young men who openly acknowledge being members of the FN force.

Mr Ouattara's defence spokesman, Leon Kouakou Alla, a former captain in Mr Gbagbo's paramilitary police unit, said Toulepleu was strategically important because it was from there that Liberian mercenaries were being recruited to fight for Mr Gbagbo.

He said: "Now that we have occupied this place we have cut off Gbagbo's rear base."